Listing 10 of the best movies on Max is like charting cinematic history, since the streaming service (formerly known as HBO Max) offers so many of the greatest films ever made.
That's not just hype. As the bespoke platform for Warner Bros, Max's impressive library contains The Lord of the Rings films (including the new The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim), all the Harry Potter movies, all the DC movies, and some choice imports, such as the filmography of legendary anime company Studio Ghibli. As if that wasn't enough, you also have cult favorites, awards winners, and some critical darlings as well. And we're not just talking old movies here – there are plenty of fantastic recent releases, like last year's mind-bending I Saw the TV Glow.
It's easily up there with the very best streaming services. To save you spending half your viewing time trying to settle on something to watch, we've listed the 10 best movies on Max right now. These include modern masterpieces such as Barbie, rewatchable classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey, and everything in between. So, get the popcorn out, settle in, and press play.
10. Reality
Year: 2023
Director: Tina Satter
Sydney Sweeney is proving herself as one of today's most promising movie stars. If you can just forget she was in Madame Web, her work from horror gem Immaculate to HBO's hit show Euphoria has been fascinating. However, it's one of her lesser-known works that stands out as her best movie so far.
A one-location thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat, Reality follows a 25-year-old woman who is confronted by the FBI at her home. Throughout the conversation, her life begins to unravel, and secrets come to light. With dialogue taken verbatim from a real FBI transcript, Tina Satter's directorial debut blurs the lines between reality and fiction to deliver this brilliant movie, with an excellent performance from Sweeney.
For more recommendations, read our list of the best shows on HBO Max to watch right now.
9. I Saw the TV Glow
Year: 2024
Director: Jane Schoenbrun
One of last year's most critically acclaimed films was this eerie sort-of-horror from director Jane Schoenbrun. I Saw The TV Glow is both a loving homage to the golden age of '90s/early '00s teen shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a powerful exploration of identity. It centers on Owen (Ian Foreman), a lonely teenager who bonds with the older, if similarly outcast, Maddy (Jack Haven) over The Pink Opaque – a Buffy-like series that seems more real that real life to the two. Cut to a few years later and Owen, now played by Justice Smith, is reunited with Maddy who comes with a life-changing message.
I Saw The TV Glow is a tricky film to describe without getting into spoilers, but if you like films and shows that blur the boundaries between fantasy and reality, or metaphysical mysteries like Donnie Darko and Twin Peaks, then this one is very much for you.
8. Barbie
Year: 2023
Director: Greta Gerwig
Despite being massively popular across generations, Barbie dolls don't exactly have an inherent narrative that you'd think would make for a good film. And yet, Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie (who produced Barbie in addition to playing the title character) pulled off something of a miracle, as Barbie is whip-smart, funny, and tremendously relevant, exploring heavy issues with earnest deftness.
When Barbie starts having thoughts about death and other things that do not belong in the pink paradise of Barbieland, she ventures into the real world (joined by a scene-stealing Ryan Reynolds as Ken). Once there, she discovers the true complexities of being a woman, just as Ken learns about the highs and ultimate lows of the patriarchy. Barbie will make you laugh and weep in ways you might not have expected.
If you want a tour of this Dream House of a film, check out our Barbie review.
7. The Host
Year: 2006
Director: Bong Joon Ho
13 years before 2019's Parasite won him the Academy Award for Best Picture, Bong Joon Ho made this gooey monster movie about a grotesque mutation which emerges from the Han River in South Korea. As the creature runs rampant, extreme measures are taken to contain the casualties.
Inspired by the real life dumping of toxic chemicals in the Seoul waterway, director Bong's film keeps the human cost of such environmental flippancy at the forefront. A young woman, Park Hyun-seo (Go Ah-sung), is held captive by the monster, prompting rescue efforts by her family, who get caught in the crossfire of a misguided attempt at killing the beast. Themes of systemic oppression and societal issues radiate through the storytelling, making this a must-watch if you've seen Parasite and want to understand director Bong's creative journey.
6. Aftersun
Year: 2023
Director(s): Charlotte Wells
Scottish writer and director Charlotte Wells made her debut with this semi-autobiographical film about a father and daughter who spend a holiday together in a Turkish resort. Callum – played by the versatile Paul Mescal – is 30, but looks young enough to be the 11-year-old Sophie's brother and there's a strong sense that he is out of his depth as a parent. The two lounge about, sing karaoke, and shop for rugs. But don't be fooled by its placid surface, heavy emotional undercurrents swell beneath the surface of the film and an ominous tone lingers over much of the "action" here.
Aftersun is a subtle film, but it's alive with emotion. Mescal has never been better, making Callum both a loving dad and a petulant man child, while first time actor Francesca Corio is simply superb as Sophie. Tinged with a palpable melancholy for days and relationships past, Aftersun is beautiful and quietly devastating.
After more recommendations? Check out our list of the best shows on Max to watch right now.
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey
Year: 1968
Director: Stanley Kubrick
When it comes to filmmaking, few hold a candle to Stanley Kubrick, and few movies have ever managed to achieve both the level of design and scope that the director's '60s sci-fi, 2001: A Space Odyssey, did. Not only does the story manage to cover the history of humankind but it shows us the birth of a new species through a mesmerizing plot that reminds you what an outer space epic truly entails – big concepts explored through a big universe.
It's inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's 1951 short story 'The Sentinel' and other works and follows a voyage by astronauts and their sentient supercomputer HAL as they set out to investigate an alien monolith. Throughout its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, we see one of the first films to explore themes of human evolution, technology, and the dangers of AI. 2001: A Space Odyssey helped pioneer special effects in sci-fi and is truly one of the most influential movies ever made.
Read our five-star 2001: A Space Odyssey review for more information on this timeless piece of art.
4. Casablanca
Year: 1942
Director: Michael Curtiz
Sometimes, old movies that are widely regarded as 'Great Films' can feel a bit like homework to younger audiences. Rest assured, Casablanca is not that, as the World War II classic above love, loss, and resistance is a thoroughly engaging watch all these many decades later. To watch Casablanca for the first time is to understand why all those quotes (such as, "Here's lookin' at you, kid") are so iconic.
The film follows Humphrey Bogart’s Rick Blaine, an American expat who runs a bar in the titular Moroccan city, which is under Vichy control as the Nazis have overtaken France. Then, of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) walks into his looking for help. Rick must decide if he should follow his heart or help Ilsa's husband, a resistance leader, escape the Germans. It's worth remembering that World War II was ongoing when Casablanca came out in 1942, meaning the outcome of the war was uncertain, adding an extra level of poignancy to the film.
Need more classics in your life? Well, read our Casablanca review for more insights into this Max gem.
3. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Years: 2001-2003
Director: Peter Jackson
Yes, including the whole trilogy technically brings this list of 10 movies up to a dozen, but how can you pick just one movie when The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King collectively make up some of the greatest epic filmmaking of all time? I mean, are you actually watching Tolkien if you don't watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order during a single sitting?
A true adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved fantasy saga was once thought unfilmable, but Peter Jackson somehow pulled it off. He did this by using cutting-edge special effects, thoughtful adapting of Tolkien's books, an incredible score from Howard Shore, and a fantastic cast whose likes included Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, and many more. Depicting the Fellowship’s quest to defeat the ultimate evil of Sauron by trekking across Middle-earth is an astounding and moving cinematic achievement.
2. The Dark Knight
Year: 2008
Director: Christopher Nolan
The best Batman movie ever made? The best superhero movie of all time? One of the best action films released this century? The Dark Knight is all of the above if you ask us. Christopher Nolan's follow-up to Batman Begins is nothing short of iconic, from the outstanding performances to the breathtaking action. Nolan delivered a dark, bold, and mature take on the superhero movie, creating a crime thriller with complex themes and compelling characters.
Everything works to perfection, but the highest praise has to go to Heath Ledger's memorable performance as Joker. Add in Christian Bale's serious Batman, Gary Oldman's cunning Jim Gordon, Morgan Freeman's charismatic Lucius Fox, and Maggie Gyllenhaal's fierce Rachel Dawes, and you have a dreamy ensemble for a groundbreaking, history-making superhero movie.
For more details, read our review of The Dark Knight.
1. Spirited Away
Year: 2001
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
In all honesty, this list could probably just be 10 of Miyazaki's movies, and it would still work as a list of the 10 best movies on Max. But as much as Porco Rosso is slept on and worth watching, we'd be kidding ourselves if we put anything but Spirited Away, the greatest of his many great works.
The film follows a young girl named Chihiro who gets trapped in a fantastical world of spirits. Forced to work at an ornate bathhouse run by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro must learn how to find strength within herself if she ever hopes to escape (and to rescue her parents, who have been transformed into pigs). Magical, moving, and absolutely gorgeous, Spirited Away regularly gets named as one of the greatest best anime movies of all time, and for good reason.
For more details on the best Max movie that you can watch right now, read our Spirited Away review.
For more on Max, check out our handy guides on all the deals and prices available on the streamer right now and how you can watch Max in the UK. Or, if you are after more releases, we also have a list of all the upcoming movies heading our way this year.
